Monday 19 March 2012

Warning - Grumpy!

Completely unrelated...but better than a picture-less post!
So I take a phone call from a Company who claim to have helped us arrange our mortgage with Santander. If they did, I say, it was a while ago, because we've since changed our lender, oooh, say 4 years ago.  Well, she got a bit stroppy about my vague disbelief. See, I can't imagine that we'd have used a broker once when every other time we've managed it on our own.  Being as we're both big ugly grown ups and all.  But hey, I don't want her to be stroppy, it's no biggie. So I move it on a bit and ask why she's calling.  And she launches into an attack on how we haven't used their services since and on that basis she's ringing to give me the chance to either stay on their customer list or be removed.  Well, not a little taken aback by the erm, haranguing, I express more disbelief.  You are, I say (to be clear) asking me if I want you to contact me anymore.  Yes.  (She said, and not a word more!) So I said that having been given the choice, my answer is no, thank you. She explained of course, that it would be my loss; they have pensions and mortgages and loans and advice for everyone.  I explained that she had empowered me and that I'd made my decision.  (Honestly, it was all frightfully serious). That was about a week ago.  In today's post is a letter from them.  It says that they understand that I've chosen not to be contacted by them and they respect my decision, but would I please just telephone to confirm....and oh boy, they give me a dedicated phone number.  Premium rate of course. So I did what any self respecting grumpy would do.  I wrote across it in red felt tip (Copic, actually). Letters about 1" high.  I wrote of my incredulity at the way they've alienated me by wasting my time, their resources and my resources.  And I don't mind the second class stamp it will cost. And so fired up was I, that I also wrote an overdue note to the Secretary at Exmouth Rugby Club about his rude note threatening to clamp my car because I'd parked there.  When I was a guest of someone who had hired the place for the day.  My letter gives the benefit of my advice regarding veiled threats.  It's only fair. We'd had a good day at that Club, and I suspect that some customers would have been a bit rattled by finding such a note on their cars.  Harumph!!!
Now, given that LLJ and I were discussing advancing years and grumpiness only this morning, does this qualify?  On the bright side - it's the first time I've dragged out my set of Copics for ages!

55 comments:

Ali said...

You go, grumpy girl! Give em a piece of your mind! (Not too much though, just in case.. ;)).

TAM said...

Yeah - give em what for.
Sure the older I get the more cantankerous I become lol

Sally said...

Yay for the Copic - You go girl!!!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

A second class stamp is MUCH cheaper and far more effective than a pricy phone call. Good for you and your copics. You knew they would come in handy some day!!

CraftygasheadZo said...

Sounds like the perfect response, you tell them! Look forward to catching up with you on Wednesday. Take care Zo xx

misteejay said...

Way to go!

However, now the Copics are out, how about using them for some nice colouring in LOL

Toni xx

Annie said...

Proud of you :-)
I'm falling out with cold callers at the mo because we are registered with phone preferences and still get at least two calls a day from companies!!!
Think I've become a grumpy old woman :-)
Hugs,
A x

C said...

I'm sitting here LOL! Another use for Copics, indeed. You go girl!!

Redanne said...

Well, considering my blood pressure has gone up a couple of notches just reading how appallingly you have been treated, stick the second class stamp on it and then think nice thoughts......you were entitled to feel grumpy.

Glenda said...

I'm usually not one to burn bridges, but given the circumstances.....I say burn it to the ground!

Lunch Lady Jan said...

It sure as heck qualifies!! Remind me never to fall out with you :D
xx

505whimsygirl said...

Ha! I recently disconnected my cable t.v. I received a call a few days later asking why and I said it was the cost. Then she starts in with this unrehearsed pitch that they can hook me back up at a discounted rate. I say no thank you. Then she comes back with "I can hear your hesitation." to which I say - there is absolutely no hesitation and please don't call me again!

Yes, I'm getting up in age..... yes, I hate solicitation calls. If they REALLY wanted me to remain a customer then they should have offered me "the great deal" while I was still a customer!

So I say - you go girl. All grumpy broads unite!!!

Hugs,
Kay

kay said...

you give them hell and i personally wouldnt have put a stamp on and made them pay the excess postage.x

Anonymous said...

oh I LOVE that, All grumpy gitls untie.My husband is really good at getting the better deals, he speaks his mind in a nice firm way and it always angers me that there are deals they will offer but do not advertise.We have tried switching cable providers and also banks when we were doing the mortgage thing and as soon as they ask you why, then oh we can match that! Why is it that as soon as they think they are losing a customer and only then do they come down in price or offer better deals.Nothing is written in stone and it shows how inconsistent they are.A different price for everyone, sheesh, I agree "YOU GO GIRL", we hear you.

Helen said...

Go Julia! I too would be inclined not to put the stamp on the envelope... and I work for a financial adviser (but not "your" one!)
All hail the grumpy old women! (I'm one too!)

Milliesmarvels said...

Good for you!! I gave an Estate Agent we are not buying our new House with a piece of mind for ringing us every few days asking if our purchase was still going through!! I told them if we needed them we would ring THEM but I definitely will not!
Jane
x

voodoo vixen said...

I am officially a grumpy old woman... and I now see that I am in some super dooper company!! Absolutely right response to someone who obviously shouldn't be cold calling anyone let alone a GOW!! ;) I actually howled when I read the bit about her threatening to remove you from their annoying lists!! How do I get on this removal list???

Monica said...

As an oldie and often grumpy I relish the thought of giving a tongue lashing. As an oldie I do get all the coffin cellars, plot sellers and other "Death makes me rich" types. They usually hang up when i tell them I have arranged with friends to have my carcass placed on a boat, set on fire and sent out to sea if they wish to retrieve the bits be my guest.

LuLu said...

Howdy 'Grumpy' Julia,

Maybe this will cheer you up a tad. I got my WOYWW button today - and I'm in Chicago, IL USA. Very fast!

Thank you for doing buttons - and WOYWW!

Peace,'LuLu

Jacqueline said...

I wish i had your tact!!! Lol I'm afraid i wasn't THAT polite !!! Yay for grumpyness !!! :)

May said...

You Go Julia, I say Power to the Grumpies, (can I be in your gang!)May x x

Days End Studio said...

Huzzah for Copic fueled rage! Get it all out on a Monday and then sit back to enjoy the rest of your week. :O)

JoZart Designs said...

Well done Mrs Meldrew, I'm proud of you!!! I'd have done the same myself but might not have used a copic, probably a Promarker.
Hope the rest of the week improves but stand back anyone who dares cross you .......you've only just got going.
Lv Jo x

Siobhan Brignull said...

ROFL

My name is Cindy said...

LOL, I actually like cold callers ringing when I'm in a bad mood as I feel absolutely justified having a go at them - I think you were very restrained!! GOW (and proud of it) everywhere salure you!!

Cindy x

Bellaidea said...

Not grumpy at all!

Deena said...

a good use for the copics for sure...I wouldn't even have wasted my ink on them...just let them stew...that phone call would have probably cost you a bundle...being grumpy is good sometimes!

Ohhh Snap said...

Grumpy is my favorite of all Snow White's companions :D. Well done!

fairy thoughts said...

I'm a fully paid up member of 'grumpy old women' But I would have put the letter back in their envelope and not put the stamp on. Love that you used the copic though.... nice touch
janet

Leslie Hanna said...

GOOD FOR YOU! Nad still LMAO about the Copic!

Leslie Hanna said...

and still ... and still ... keeping it G-rated

Unknown said...

Great Post Julia, Laughing still! :-)
Helen

Darnell J Knauss said...

You are TOO funny!! And, hurrah, another fellow sister who takes a few minutes to write to those who unabashedly waste our time and resources or otherwise do annoying and dumb things - and usually treat us like we're the dumb ones in the process! I salute you and loved your recounting!

VonnyK said...

Good on you, the nerve of them. Shame they aren't local as you could go in and stick it to her forehead!
Go for the football bloke too, maybe you should suggest that next time you will all park on the rugby pitch.
Thank heavens our "do not call" register works over here.
Von :)

Kirsty.A said...

Good for you!!

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

Great stuff! I'm with you all the way. Why should we have to suffer this kind of haranguing from people who only want our hard earned money. The only thing I would have done differently, would have been to not put a stamp on so they had to pay, and I would have stuffed the envelope with some of the other spam mail that we all get. If I get an envelope and form from an insurance company wanting my money, I fill the reply paid envelope with advertising for baths, carpets and anything else that has arrived in the same post. Have a good week, and I hope Mr Blogger behaves better this week for you. xxx Maggie

Twiglet said...

Well done you - how dare they be so bad mannered and actually downright rude when its YOUR money they are after. What on earth would tempt you to use their services??? Glad you did what you did - now move on - "grumpy knickers" don't suit you. lol. x Jo

Anonymous said...

Good on ya! The cheek of them. Not sure I would have wasted the ink in my copics though, but they needed a good telling off.

Still giggling at this post now lol.

Spyder said...

yep...I hate them too...they want money before they will let mother in laws savings go...they want more money coz we want to close the savings early...why?...um...she's dead...and oh....then want...well there's more but I'm getting cross now!! Cheeky (b*@#~Ers!) I spelt that wrong by the way...

Morti said...

Good for you. Dunno that your advancing years have anything to do with your grumpiness, rather they have more to do with your confidence to not put up with idiots....

Yvonne Moxon said...

Lol your post made me giggle, I hate it when you calls from companies who get stroppy and claim that they are doing you a favour! well done on finding a really good use for the Copics :)
Yvonne

fairyrocks said...

WTG Julia!!
I once had a call telling me my DH had won a fantastic prize...I said send it out!! {this conversation went on and on....it was a free prize after all....}
You know they never did send it out...sigh...
But, its not about me, Good on you for standing your ground and another use for Copic is nice LOL

Princess Judy Palmer said...

You totally made me laugh. How wonderful that you got to use your copics! There's the silver lining. When someone does us wrong my hubby will get all profane and scream and rant and carry on like a 5-year old. Me, I write a serious, professional letter (1" red letters are very professional). Guess which one of us gets results?

jodpea said...

I spend most of my day answering the phone, fielding idiotic calls for my colleagues and wishing they would pick up on the "oh just buggger off" tone of my voice! The most irritating is when they say "what does your company do exactly?" If they don't know, y r they tryin to get my business???
Thanks for my badge, its firmly attached to my bag ready for the NEC on Sunday!

Deb said...

you tell 'em! this did give me a giggle, hope you can look back and giggle too!
Debxx

Lisa-Jane said...

There is no hope for me. I'm grumpy like that now and I am only *cough* 38. ;-)

Dragon said...

Oh how wude!!! Her not you, so go girl... what a farce...
Frankie
xx

Neet said...

Well within your rights to act as you did I think. I love a good strop now and then. Goo on Girl, give it to em.

donnalouiserodgers said...

Have you Watched 'keeping mum'?

don't get grumpy

get psychopathic,

dx

ike said...

YaY - you ROCK !!! Excellent stuff - made me laugh and I love that you got grumpy and told them what's what !!! Go Girl xxxx

famfa said...

I was about to comment on woyww when I noticed the grumpy title below and was impelled to read on...... All done girl! You tell 'em. Aren't these people annoying. You're not grumpy in my book, just 'putting the world to rights!' x

famfa said...

Impelled - I meant compelled. Btw had trouble commenting earlier, my fault not yours, so may have commented twice about the same thing. DOH!

Kezzy said...

Go girl, give them what they deserved, I so wish I was a fly on the wall when you read that letter lol, I would be ranting all over the place, just had the rant over the budget!!! Love the unrelated card it's fantastic. I should take a leaf out of your book (get it, leaf your card oh thats so bad) and next time I'm grumpy, sort out all my other problems at the same time just like you did with the rugby club lol. Kezzy xxx

Jacqueline said...

Oh Julia it isn't hard at all! I managed to get loads done on my book yesterday! Only got the 'niche' to cut out now and then wait until I get some cash to buy the Matt Medium I'm after, haven't got any of that yet...

The book kind of chose me really, it was in along with some stuff that was getting throw away after my Mother in law passed away, so it's been well and truly recycled! Just the right size for a beginer's project methinks!

I am REALLY enjoying this project and I will be thrilled to bits when it's all finished ... or there abouts!!

Take care

Jackie x

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